Before the address by Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives a speech to open the formal sitting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

statement

troubles in Ukraine (T)

official visit

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

formal sitting

president's agenda

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

ZELENSKYY, Volodymyr (UA)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

Visit of Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine to the European Parliament - Formal Sitting: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Arrival of Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine, and Roberta METSOLA, EP president, in the Hemicycle

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We are here today on this historic occasion to welcome the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to the European Parliament. This is an extraordinary moment in extraordinary times. It has been almost one year since the brutal illegal invasion of sovereign Ukraine by Russia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, In all that time, Mr. President, your leadership has inspired your people and inspired every corner of the globe. When the world thinks of Ukraine, they think of the heroes fighting the odds of David beating Goliath. They think of the icons of Snake Island, the warriors of Mariupol, the liberators of so many occupied towns and villages. Their names will be spoken of for generations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Not withstanding the bombs that fall every day, your grain continues to feed the world. When a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, you stood up and sent rescuers equipment and expertise. That is real solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I am proud to say that this house of European democracy, its members, our European Union, has always stood with you. We understand that you are fighting not only for your values, but for ours, for those ideals that bind us as sisters and brothers. They make us all European because Ukraine is Europe and your nation's future is in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We know the sacrifice that your people have endured for Europe, and we must honour it not only with words, but with action, with the political will to ensure easier trade and with the fastest possible accession process, with funds for your people, with help in reconstruction, with training for your troops, with military equipment and defence systems. You need to win.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And now states must consider quickly as a next step, providing longer range systems and the jets that you need to protect the liberty too many have taken for granted. Our response must be proportional to the threat, and the threat is existential. I grew up hearing my grandparents stories of my country's last three fighter planes when all seemed lost, when they had no ammunition, no food and no hope.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, All that remains were the three barely functioning planes that they called Faith Hope and Charity, named after what they were fighting for, after what was at stake. The planes meant one more day of liberty, just long enough for help to arrive. They meant peace. You do not need to convince anyone here of how essential it is to support Ukraine, to back all those giving their lives to support the values we preach with concrete measures to ensure victory.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Real peace, based on your ten point plan. Accountability for those who committed war crimes and for the protection of freedom for all Ukrainians.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And I want to repeat the promise that I made to you when we met in Kiev last April. We have your back. We were with you then. We are with you now. We will be with you for as long as it takes. Freedom will prevail. Peace will reign. You will win. Slava Ukraini